Transfer mechanism for counters



Sept. 27, 1949. H. N. BLISS TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR COUNTERS Filed Nov. 10, 1945 HARVEY N. 62/55 Patented Sept. 27, 1949 TRANSFER MECHANISM roa COUNTERS Harvey N. Bliss, Windsor, Conn., assignor to Veeder-Root Incorporated, Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application November 10, 1945, Serial No. 627,956

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to counters and particularly to counters adapted for high-speed operation and has special reference to an improved transfer mechanism of the Geneva type.

The aim of the invention is to provide a counter with an improved Geneva transfer mechanism of such construction and arrangement that a transfer from one counter unit, such as a numeral wheel, to another may be more smoothly effected without undue shock to the parts, thus materially reducing wear or breakage and giving to the counter a long and useful life and permitting it to be operated at a high speed. With my improved arrangement, during a transfer operation, the unit or indicating member of lowest order very gradually picks up the normally stationary unit of next higher order so as to slowly overcome the inertia of the latter, and at the end of the transfer operation the unit of higher order is gradually brought to a stop. Thus, sudden blows or impacts incident to picking up and stopping the unit of higher order, together with undue wear and breakage of the parts, are avoided or largely eliminated.

A further aim of the invention is to provide a transfer mechanism of this sort wherein the transfer unit and wheel of higher order are more effectively locked against rotation, except during a transfer operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a transfer mechanism of this sort which is characterized by its simplicity in construction and by its compactness in arrangement, the same occupying a relatively small space so that the over-all size of the counter is not increased.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the fea tures of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a front view of a counter embodying the present invention with portions thereof in section to show the details of construction;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig.

Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an elevational side view of the pinion of the transfer unit;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the pinion taken on line 55 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a similar view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown, for illustrative purposes only, a counter comprising generally a frame having a pair of side plates l and H in which is journaled a shaft l2 on which are rotatably mounted three counter units l5, l6 and I? of successively higher orders. The units are illustratively shown as being in the form of numeral wheels, and for convenience herein they are so designated, but they may be in the form of plates or disks mounted on adjacent shafts and having numerals arranged on their radial faces. Also journaled in the frame is a shaft l8 loose upon which are mounted a Geneva transfer unit T between the wheels and I6, and the usual transfer pinion P between the wheels l6 and [1. Each counter wheel o higher order is adapted to be advanced one step upon each complete revolution of the counter wheel of the next lower order.

Each of the counter wheels may comprise a hub rotatably mounted on the shaft l2 and a shell 2| secured to the hub, the shell having a u laterally extending flange 22 on the outer periphery of which are consecutively arranged numerals running from 0 to 9. A plate 23 is secured, as by means of pillars or pins 24, to the right-hand end of the wheel I5 of the lowest order, and to this plate is fastened a driven gear 25. The gear 25 may be driven in any suitable manner, such as by means of a gear 26 fixed to the drive shaft l8 and meshing with the driven gear. The transfer mechanism between the wheels [6 and ll of higher order may be of any suitable kind, that shown in the drawings being of an old well-known type, such as is illustrated in the patent to H. L. Spaunburg, No. 2,040,031, granted May 5, 1936. More particularly, it will be seen that the left-hand end of the wheel l6, referring to Fig. 1, carries a locking disk '29 and a two-tooth driving gear 30. The disk 29 has a notch in its periphery aligned with the space between the teeth of gear 30. Secured to the right-hand end of the wheel IT, as by means of the pins 24, is a twenty-tooth driven gear 32 and loose on the shaft I8 is the transfer pinion P which has four narrow teeth 33 and four intervening wide teeth 34. The teeth all mesh with the twenty-tooth driven gear 32, but only the wide teeth 34 extend across the plane of the locking disk 29. During the intervals between transfer movements, two adjacent wide teeth 34 engage the periphery of the locking disk 29 and prevent accidental rotation of the transfer pinion P and the wheel l'l. During a transfer movement, a locking tooth 34 is received by the notch and the two-tooth gear 38 picks up the transfer pinion P and through it rotates the wheel I! one step, i. e. one-tenth of a revolution.

Referring now in detail to the Geneva transfer mechanism between wheels and Hi, there is se cured on the left-hand side (with reference to Fig. 1) of the wheel if: of the lowest order, to the projecting ends of the pins 24, a driving stud carrying disk as and a locking disk 4|, these disks being maintained in spaced-apart relation by a washer 42, thus providing a peripheral groove 43 between the disks. Carried by the disk 46 is a rotatable driving stud 44 which is adapted, as

hereinafter described, to drive the indexing plate of the transfer unit. The locking disk 4| has in its periphery a notch 45 registering with the driving stud 44. This notch is adapted to accommodate certain pinion teeth of the transfer unit, as

hereinafter described in more detail. A twentytooth driven gear 45 is secured to the right-hand end of the wheel it of the next higher order by means of the pins 24.

The transfer movement between the wheel l5 of the lowest order and the wheel iii of the next higher order is carried out through the Geneva transfer unit T. This unit comprises a pinion 4? having, at its right-hand end (referring to the drawings), an extending hub portion 48 to which is keyed and staked an indexing plate 49 so that the pinion and plate rotate as a unit. The unit is loose on the shaft l8 so that it may rotate relative thereto. The indexing plate 49 extends partway into the groove 43 between the disks 4!] and -5 4l, and the transfer unit is thus maintained against axial movement on the shaft. The indexing plate has four radially extending slots 50 which are adapted to receive the driving stud 44 whereby, as hereinafter described more in detail,

While the wheel I5 is rotating through an angle of 72 or one-fifth of a complete revolution, the transfer unit is rotated 90 and the wheel of the next higher order is advanced 36 or onetenth of a complete revolution. The pinion 41 is constructed with four narrow teeth 5| and four intervening wide teeth 52. he teeth all mesh with the driven gear secured to the wheel l6. However, the narrow teeth stop short of the plane of the locking disk 4| and the wide teeth extend e:

into the plane thereof. The locking disk 4| is of such diameter that two adjacent wide teeth 52 of the pinion 4'? cooperate with its periphery and prevent rotation of the transfer unit relative to the shaft 28, except during a transfer movement.

The transfer movement begins when the driving stud 44 enters a slot 56 on the indexing plate and the stud, by engaging the edge of the slot 5!], begins to drive the indexing plate. It will be seen that at the same time that this occurs, a wide tooth 52 enters the notch 45 in the periphery of the locking disk 4| and thus the transfer unit '1 is no longer locked against rotation. The driving stud 44 enters the slot 53 at an angle closely approaching a tangent to the wheel i5. This results in a gentle pick up of the indexing plate and the speed at which the indexing plate is driven reaches its maximum velocity at the point where the slot 59 is radial to the center of rotation of the Wheel l5 and the stud has entered the slot as far as possible. At this point, the stud begins to move out of the siot 5t and, since the angle of the slot to the direction of rotation of the stud gradually becomes less acute, the indexing plate decelerates in the same gradual .4 manner as it accelerated at the beginning of the transfer movement. The driving stud may be positioned so as to enter a slot when the wheel moves to a point between the figures 8 and 9, as seen at the window or observation point. The construction of the mechanism is such that the stud carries out its driving function during onefifth of a revolution or 72 turn of the wheel l5 and, therefore, when the stud may leave the slot 50 after a transfer movement, the wheel I5 is positioned relative to the point of observation at a point between the figure 0 and the figure l on its periphery. It will also be seen that, when the stud leaves the slot 50 after completion of a transfer movement, two adjacent wide teeth 56 of the pinion 41 again cooperate with the periphcry of the looking disk 4| to prevent rotation of the transfer unit upon the shaft l8. During the transfer movement, the indexing plate 49 is moved through a turn, or one-fourth of a revolution, and this movement of the indexing plate moves the pinion 4"! through one-fourth of a revolution. Since the teeth of the pinion all mesh with the twenty-tooth driven gear 46 secured to wheel Hi, the wheel I6 is rotated for a distance of two teeth which results in a one-tenth or 36 turn of the wheel It and thereby rotates the wheel ii to the next consecutive number on the periphery thereof. In other words, during a complete transfer operation, when the wheel l5 rotates through a T2 turn, the wheel I6 is rotated through a 36 turn, or one-half as fast as the wheel |5. Because the wheel of the next higher order is thus rotated at one-half the speed of the wheel of the lowest order, the wear and tear on the counter is reduced proportionately. Furthermore, as has been previously pointed out, the transfer movement is one of gradual acceleration to a maximum speed and then one of gradual deceleration to the conclusion of the movement. These features materially reduce the wear and tear on the counter which would otherwise result from the shocks encountered where the mechanism is not constructed to cushion them. It has, in fact, been 52 found that my improved transfer mechanism doubles and triples the speed at which a counter may safely be driven and materially reduces the wear from continued operation by providing the smooth and relatively shockless transfer heretofore described and by cutting down the speed of the wheels of the higher order relative to the wheel of the lowest order during a transfer movement. My device has the further advantage of providing a perfect lock against movement of the transfer unit during the intervals between transfer operations. The locking disk 4| is of sizable diameter and this assures that the transfer unit will be securely locked except during the actual transfer movement.

Furthermore, my improved arrangement is very small and compact.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a counter, a first shaft, numeral members of higher orders arranged. on the shaft in side by side relationship for rotation in parallel planes, a driving lug to the member of lower order for rotation with the member in a plane, a concentric locking shouider to the member of lower order for rotation in a second radial plane spaced the lug and having a notch registering with said lug, a driven gear secured to the member of higher order for rotation with the member of higher order in a third radial plane spaced from the shoulder and lug, a second shaft parallel to the first shaft, and a rotatable transfer unit mounted on the second shaft between said members having a plate portion disposed in the said plane extending inwardly beyond the of locking shoulder and pr0- .ty of slots adapted to successivelv said lug to effect a transfer movement and of sunicient length to provide gradual accel" i n and deacceleration of the e unit exceot during a transion 0 sed the said th said driven 2. En counter, a first shaft, rotary numeral lower orders on the shaft, rs having side portions spaced from faciu each other, a locking disk secured to the side portion of the men order and therefrom, a drivin lug fixed to the side portion of the member of lower order betwe o the member and the locking disk, said 3' a notch registering with said i. -.g stud, a driven gear secured to the said side portion of the member of higher order, a second shaft parallel to the first shaft, and a rotatable transfer unit mounted on the second shaft between said members, said unit comprising an indexing plate having a plurality of radial slots adapted to successively receive said stud to effect a transfer movement, said plate extending inwardly between the locking disk and the member of lower order and said slots being of sufficient length to provide gradual acceleration and deaccel ation of the transfer unit during a transfe movement, and a pinion having narrow teeth an v intervening wide teeth all of which mesh with said driven. gear, said wide teeth ext across the plane of said locking dish and fl so that two adjacent wide teeth engage -ery of said locking disk to prevent rotatron of the transfer unit except during a transfer movement, said notch being adapted to receive a wide pinion tooth during a transfer movement.

3. In a counter, a first shaft, rotary counter members of lower and higher orders on the shaft, said members having side portions spaced from and facing each other, a circular locking member fixed to the said side portion of the rotary counter member of lower order and spaced therefrom, a lug fixed to the said side portion of the rotary member .of lower order between the counter member and the locking member, a driven gear secured to the said side portion of the counter member of higher order and spaced from the locking member, a second shaft parallel to the first shaft, and a rotatable transfer unit mounted on the second shaft, said unit comprising an indexing plate in the plane of rotation of the said lug and extending between the wheel of lower order and the locking member fixed thereto, said plate having four angularly spaced apart radially extending slots arranged to successively receive said stud to cause the unit to rotate at a non uniform speed while the counter member of lower order is rotated more than 36, and a pinion having a plurality ff narrow teeth and intervening wide teeth all of which mesh with said driven gear, said pinion and driven gear being constructed and arranged to cause the counter member of higher order to rotate 36 for each 90 turn of the transfer unit, said wide teeth extending across the plane of said locking disk and arranged so that two adjacent wide teeth engage the periphery of the locking member to prevent rotation of the transfer unit except during a transfer movement, said locking member being provided with a notch adjacent the lug for receiving a wide pinion tooth during a transfer movement, said notch being of sufficient length to unlock the transfer mechanism for rotation by the counter member of lower order while the counter member is rotated more than 36.

4. In a counter, a first shaft, rotary counter members of lower and higher orders on the shaft, said members having side portions spaced from and facing each other, a circular locking member to the said side portion of the rotary counter member of lower order and spaced therefrom, a lug fixed. to the said side portion of the rotary member of lower order between the counter member and the locking member, a driven gear secured to the said side portion of the counter member of higher order and spaced from the locking memher, a second shaft parallel to the first shaft, and a rotatable transfer unit mounted on the second shaft, said unit comprising an indexing plate in the plane of rotation of the said lug having four angularly spaced-apart radially extending slots arranged to successively receive said stud to cause the unit to rotate 90 at a non-uniform speed while the counter member .of lower order is rotated substantially 72, and a pinion having a plurality of narrow teeth and intervening wide teeth all of which mesh with said driven gear, said pinion and driven gear being constructed and arranged to cause the counter member of higher order to rotate 36 for each 90 turn of the transfer unit, said wide teeth extending across the plane of said locking disk and arranged so that two adjacent wide teeth engage the periphery of the locking member to prevent rotation of the transfer unit except during a transfer movement, said locking member being provided with a notch adjacent the lug for receiving a wide pinion tooth during a transfer movement and of sufficient length to unlock the transfer unit while the counter member of lower unit is rotated sub stantially 72 during a transfer movement.

HARVEY N. BLISS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 368,163 Orme et al. Aug. 9, 1887 1,105,170 Wright July 28, 1914 1,185,566 Wright May 30, 1916 1,743,562 Mombur Jan. 14, 1930 

